TicketsCINCINNATI – Senior Mya Perry erupted for 31 points in her Bearcat debut, but the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team fell 88-85 to Lehigh in its season opener Tuesday night inside Fifth Third Arena.
The game featured 15 lead changes and five ties as the Bearcats fought back from an early double-digit deficit. UC had a look at the basket with one second left, but the shot was off the mark.
Perry tied her career high behind an efficient 11-of-17 shooting performance, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Junior Reagan Jackson added 21 points, her third career 20-point game. She connected on four three-pointers and went 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Perry and Jackson combined for 52 of the Bearcats’ 85 points.
Caliyah DeVillasee, Kylie Torrence, Joya Crawford and Mary Carden also made their Cincinnati debuts. DeVillasee chipped in 14 points and five assists, while Torrence grabbed six boards to go along with six points.
Cincinnati shot 46% from the floor and made 11 3-pointers (.555). It marked the Bearcats’ best three-point shooting percentage since shooting 50% at Tulane on Feb. 4, 2023.
Lehigh countered with a 49% mark from the field and nine triples of its own.
The Mountain Hawks used a 10-0 run to jump out to a 24-11 advantage in the first quarter. The Bearcats answered with seven straight points, capped by a Crawford buzzer-beating layup, to close within 24-18.
Six three-pointers in the second quarter helped Cincinnati trim the deficit to three at halftime, 48-45. Perry and Jackson combined for 31 of the Bearcats’ 48 first-half points, each knocking down four treys.
Cincinnati went ahead early in the third quarter behind back-to-back buckets from Perry and Jackson, but Lehigh responded with consecutive threes to regain the lead. The Bearcats held a slim 72-71 advantage entering the final frame.
Perry’s late three-point play tied the game at 83-all with under two minutes to play, and a DeVillasee jumper moments later gave Cincinnati an 85-83 edge. Lehigh, however, evened the score again and converted three free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati travels to Happy Valley for a Friday night matchup at Penn State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Rec Hall.